The former Porto coach, who won the treble in Portugal last season, handed in his resignation on Tuesday, before Chelsea stumped up a record amount of cash for a manager to release him from his deal.

A statement on the Chelsea website read: ''Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job. He is one of the most talented young managers in football today and has already achieved much in a relatively short space of time. His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre's leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions.

''Andre will bring his coaching experience back to a club he is already very familiar with, having previously worked here for three years. He has always been highly regarded at Chelsea and everyone here looks forward to welcoming him back and working with him.''

The 33-year-old has already worked at Stamford Bridge, as a coach under former Blues' boss Jose Mourinho, and will be reportedly be paid a lucrative £4.4 million a year salary.

Meanwhile, former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has appealed for Villas-Boas to be allowed to be his own man amid many Mourinho comparisons.

''Yes, everybody is going to look at him and say, 'You have
learned it [from Mourinho]' or 'You are the same as Mourinho', and he is going
to be the example,'' he said. ''But I don't think that's fair on him. It is only more pressure because
everybody is going to compare him to Mourinho.

''Yes, he is only 33, but I think we should look at him just as a man on his
own, a different manager - yes from Portugal, but a different individual, and
just give him a chance to succeed.

''It is going to be very important for Chelsea - Chelsea are at a very
important stage. They are not going to be able to keep on letting managers come and go. They
will have to give somebody faith, and luckily it is somebody young, so somebody
who can grow with the club and put his stamp on the Premier League and also the
club.''